FilipinoVoices.com - A New Weblog for You, the Concerned Filipino

Written on Monday, April 14th, 2008 at 1:42 pm | by Lester Cavestany

When there’s a newly-opened mall, people rush to see what’s in it. When there’s a new iPhone model, we can’t help but be curious about its new features. When your favorite singer has a new song, you have this uncontrollable urge to check it out. It’s almost human nature to be fascinated by what’s new.  Something is triggered in our brains and we instantly get turned on by the novelty of the latest things.

Well I’ve got good news for you! There’s a new weblog in the Pinoy blogosphere and it’s made especially for you.

If you read or write blogs, then you know why blogging is fast becoming the world’s most powerful medium for advocacy, advertising and adventure. Everything’s instantaneous. The blogger writes a post, then it gets published immediately. Readers are informed of the new post (through RSS feeds). They visit the weblog, read the blog and share their views about it. Everyone gets to do the same thing and they can even comment on what other readers have written. Equal access and equal opportunities to share your views. Weblogs don’t discriminate on who you are, who you know, what you are, and what you know. In the blogging community, you are a user of the weblog and you’re important.

Your Voice Counts

We’re only just beginning to understand the power of the online community. Let’s name some of the issues where members of the online community have played a major role. We have the Malu Fernandez controversy vs OFWs, Desperate Housewives vs RP Med Schools, the Filipino Olympic torchbearer campaign, POEA vs Direct-Hire OFWs, Jun Lozada vs GMA and many others. In all these issues, people shared their views one by one until the collective effort reached a tipping point and the other side had no choice but to listen to the people’s opinions.

Mob Rule?

Here’s the best part! You don’t even have to agree with what others think when you’re writing in blogs. What matters is what you think. In the issues I mentioned above, you will find that there were many varied views expressed by different people. It’s difficult to say which opinions were shared by the majority. But what’s amazing is that because there was a plethora of perspectives, the people directly involved in the issues were able to see how their policies or actions were affecting others. And sometimes, that’s exactly what decision-makers need. They need multiple angles of looking at issues. And that’s what they’ll get, thanks to the growing number of socially-concerned Filipino bloggers.

We’re the Same

There’s something in the air and we can both feel it. The change in our country that we have always wanted is finally coming together.  More and more unjust, unfair, corrupt and evil practices are being exposed. The truth that we don’t have a democracy, and instead we have a democratic oligarchy, is slowly sinking in. The reality that farmers deserve to be rewarded plots of land is getting attention. In short, the balance of power is shifting towards the citizenry. And as it does, you and I will be there to witness it. And not just witness it, we will make it happen. 

Power to the People

Nick Tingog, the firestarter of FilipinoVoices.com said that this is just the beginning. The beginning of a movement that aims to create systemic changes in our country. And some people may say that blogging solves nothing because it’s just words. My friends, let’s not underestimate the power of words. Words can heal, words can hurt, but more importantly, words inspire action.

Talk Therapy in the Blogging Community

So come on, visit www.filipinovoices.com and join our community of socially-concerned Filipinos. Let’s talk things over. Let your voice be heard. We don’t have to wait for election-time to influence the way things work in our country. With your help, we can create a giant wave of change that will lead our country to greatness. A wave of change that will give every Filipino a good quality of life. But just like any wave, it should be made up of tiny atoms of water. I am that atom of change. You are that atom of change.  

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About The Author: Lester Cavestany is a teacher at the United Nations International School of Hanoi. He has been an OFW since 2002 and he hopes that someday he can be back in the Philippines for good to continue the programs of Education Volunteers Educating Filipinos Inc., a non-profit organization he started with his friends in 2001.

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4 Responses to “FilipinoVoices.com - A New Weblog for You, the Concerned Filipino”

  1. FilipinoVoices.com - A New Weblog for You, the Concerned Filipino : PinoyBlogoSphere.com (PBS) on April 14th, 2008 1:46 pm

    […] Well I’ve got good news for you! There’s a new weblog in the Pinoy blogosphere and it’s made especially for you. It’s called FilipinoVoices.com. Read more […]

  2. Anthony on April 19th, 2008 7:51 pm

    Great job. I look forward to reading your thoughts and will contribute if I can. We’ve linked to you on our site for Filipinos in the UK http://phil-uk.com

  3. Virgil Nixon on June 21st, 2008 7:04 am

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    Watauga Regional Library Center
    http://www.statsvitenskap.uio.no/eng.html

  4. orly on July 29th, 2008 5:30 am

    Good show, Lester
    May your tribe increase (after tying the knot.)

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